Journey to the Final Lair

- OR How I Became a Theatre Major instead of a Scientist

Way back when I was in elementary school I was part of the Girl Scouts. For one of our "outings" we got to go up to Georgia Tech for a day of activities, spending the day in the city, and taking over the classrooms. Sitting in a college classroom was exciting. The room was huge! And the chairs swiveled around while you sat on them - best part of college life!

I know - basing a whole career on how much fun a swivel chair is isn't the best method of life decisions. Though in retrospect, I did far better in math and science after that. They were fun classes for me - exciting and engaging.

But somehow along the way, things sort did the one-two-switch-a-roo. The right side of my brain became more prominent. I became a far better writer (sometimes you can't tell), slightly better with my drawing, and far more prominent in singing and what-not.

Then came "The Phantom of the Opera".

Now, I had seen the book before, I owed a few copies, done a couple projects on the musical for French class. When the movie came out December '04, it took me until the following February to finally see it. And the day after to begin reading the novel for the first time.

Theatre became an intregal part of my life since then. It is my place to go when things are down and depressing. I got my Associate's in Fine Arts, loving every single moment of it. Though it is difficult to "break into the business", I kept up with it by working on community productions. Mostly I keep backstage, far more comfortable there. Although I did try my hand at acting a few times (utterly terrifying, but kinda sasfictory after the fact).

Now I Volunteer Usher at the local theatre while working online from home.

It's been a long time coming to this point in life, but I feel grateful for all the many people I've had the opportunity to work with. I think it's good for people to try theatre at least once. It's a good way to test yourself, to make new friends, to learn how to be an electricial (okay, a super amature one), work with sound, among other things. It's a great learning process that can improve how you come at problems.

If you want to learn about the bounds and leaps you can take, go volunteer at your local theatre. Ask to tackle any task that comes your way - you will not only learn so many new things, but you will have a blast!

(Oh, and if you volunteer at your local theatre, you can see the show for free! Pratically, you have to pay for parking and gas, but still a $100 plus show ticket for nothing! GO! GO NOW AND DO IT!)

Have a wonderful week.

I'm going to usher "The Phantom of the Opera" a few times this week before it leaves. Because I am a Phan and darn proud of it.